Royal Mail is trialling hydrogen fuel technology in Scotland as it looks to make its fleet more sustainable.
Provided by Aberdeen City Council, the Ford dual-fuel vehicle will be evaluated for a 12-month trial period across a range of postal routes in the Aberdeen area before potentially being rolled out more widely.
The 3.5 tonne vehicle will generate between 30 and 60% of its power from hydrogen and the rest from diesel. It can travel up to 120 miles in dual fuel mode and is capable of carrying letters and parcels of all sizes.
James Baker, chief engineer and fleet director at Royal Mail said: “As a Company, we are committed to making changes to our operations that reduce our environmental impact.
“Hydrogen is viewed by many as a vital source of future sustainable energy; so, as such, is a perfect addition to our program of initiatives that enable us to assess ways of achieving this, while allowing us to continue to deliver letters and parcels safely, efficiently and responsibly.”
Royal Mail is already using electric vehicles in London and Birmingham.
